There are so many ways to build a building! Seriously. Most of these are dependent on the location and what is required by the energy code, but a lot of them can also be chosen due to budget and labor...
A well-built cooler results in using less ice to keep items cold. This is a similar concept to building a well-built building that will result in less energy usage. If you build a structure that is air-tight...
The journey of building your own home can be grueling, but here is a short introduction on what to expect. Note that there are a lot of variables so this is a rough outline on what the process will look...